Benson Germanium Fuzz

Name: Benson Germanium Fuzz
Price: 49 USD
Author: MixWave

by MixWave · Distortion · Germanium fuzz pedal model

Not rated yet

A model of Benson's germanium fuzz, the first pedal with Automatic Thermal Bias to keep germanium transistors stable.

It goes from clean boost to overdrive to fuzz, for $36.75 on sale (normally $49).

Best for: Guitars, Bass, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Rock & Indie, Metal, Lo-Fi.

Keywords: fuzz, germanium, electric guitar, synths, clean, drums, minimal controls, bass, moderate, overdrive, transistor, heavy, vintage, crunchy, fat, fuzzy, gritty, lo-fi, mixing, simple, single-band, sound design, warm.

What it does

Benson Germanium Fuzz is MixWave's model of a Benson fuzz pedal that, in MixWave's words, was "the first pedal to incorporate Automatic Thermal Bias". The idea is a germanium fuzz that stays consistent and can work as anything from a clean boost to a full wall of fuzz.

Three roles in one: the pedal is designed to work as a clean boost, an overdrive or a heavy, gripping fuzz, depending on how it is set.
Automatic Thermal Bias: the model includes the hardware's bias circuit, which counters the temperature sensitivity of germanium transistors so the tone doesn't drift.
Three knobs: a simple pedal-style panel with only three controls, which a reviewer found still gives a wide range from mild drive to fuzz.
Beyond guitar: a reviewer used it on software and hardware synths and drums as well as guitar.

KVR lists version 1.0.5. It is part of the Benson Chimera Collection (and, per MixWave, the Monarch collection). A 14-day fully working trial is available. It is often on sale.

Source: MixWave product page

When to use it

Benson Germanium Fuzz is the pick when you want one specific vintage-style fuzz with a pedal workflow, not a toolbox. Compared with Saturn 2, it has no multiband splitting, modulation or dozens of styles, but it is far quicker to dial in and costs much less. Unlike Dist COLDFIRE, which covers many distortion types with filters and extras, it gives you a single germanium circuit that cleans up into a boost. It is gentler and more musical than Devil-Loc Deluxe, which is built to crush and squash rather than to behave like a guitar pedal.

Best for: vintage fuzz guitar, fuzz bass, gritty synth lines and driven drum buses.
Genres: rock, indie, garage, psych and lo-fi.
Look elsewhere if: you want modern high-gain fuzz, multiband distortion or modulation (Saturn 2), or many distortion types in one plugin (Dist COLDFIRE).

What producers say

The one review found treats it as a standout of the Benson Chimera Collection, with no criticism of the fuzz itself.

SINESQUARES called it the reviewer's favourite pedal in the collection, going from "a mild driven tone to crunchy fuzzy mayhem" and sounding "fat and warm in every setting"; it praised the many sweet spots from just three knobs.
Usage: the same review used it on guitars, software and hardware synths and drums.
Criticisms: only the computer latency that comes with any amp or pedal plugin; KVR shows no user reviews yet.

Where to buy

MixWave: $49

Tutorials and reviews

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